Lobster boat cruise after reception

[zoebartlett]

Our wedding is at 11:00 with cocktail hour and reception starting immediately afterwards. The reception will end by 4PM, and I''ve been wondering what to do after that. My mom came up with this idea -- please be honest about your thoughts. As you may know, we''re getting married in a beach town on the coast of Maine next summer. We just reserved a hotel that''s just one mile from the venue. We''re considering renting a trolley to take guests from the hotel to the venue. After the reception ends, my mom thought that it might be a cool idea to have the trolley pick everyone up, drop them off at the hotel for a while so people can change and maybe relax for a bit. Then, the trolley would take us to the marina where boat tours leave at a designated hour (we''re thinking of going on the 6PM cruise). We''d go on a 90 minute tour and see the sights on a lobster boat. I''d honestly rather take a dinner cruise type of boat (the kind with more than one level) but that''s too expensive.

Here''s the site: http://www.firstchancewhalewatch.com/index.php (I think it''s the one named "Kylie''s Chance.")


This would be in lieu of favors and a brunch the next day. If you were going to a wedding, would you choose to do this or would you head back home or to the hotel to hang out instead?

 

[boston_jeff]

Disclaimer: guy's perspective--

I would probably ditch the boat, unless I was really close to the bride and/or groom. Granted, I have been accused of being a "party-pooper", and have been known to bail on fun after-events...

It could turn out to be a lot of fun, but it doesn't really look like a lot of fun, and that perception is what people use when deciding whether to go or get an early start home or some extra rest at the hotel...

You said it was "in lieu" of a brunch/favors-- does that mean a brunch is still an option?

Hope that helps...

Edit: I don't think you should worry too much about your guests not having anything to do after the wedding-- some will want to take a nap before dinner and others will have plenty to do in southern maine during the summer-- you could certainly suggest things for people to do in the area...

 

[zoebartlett]

Thanks for being honest Jeff! We''ll definitely have a letter in everyone''s room to welcome them. Included in the letter will be info on sights to see and things to do in the area. I thought it could be fun for some of the guests (we certainly don''t expect everyone), especially those not from New England, to do this. If some opt out in favor of spending the rest of the day and evening shopping, swimming, walking around, etc., that''s fine too. I just wanted to do some kind of after party without having to rent out yet another venue.

We won''t have a hosted brunch or breakfast the following day. We''re assuming that our hosting duties end after either the reception or the boat cruise. After that, people are on their own. We''re most likely not going to do favors either. We''d put the money towards everyone''s boat ticket instead. If we don''t go on the boat, we''ll figure something out.

The night before, we''re also probably going to have a catered BBQ on the lawn of our reserved section of our hotel for our rehearsal dinner. People can come for that if they''d like, but we''re not going to do a formal rehearsal dinner in a restaurant.